Lineup changes come easy for Lakers

NEW ORLEANS - The Lakers finally looked like themselves again. They overpowered an opponent below them in the standings Wednesday night, using their size, strength and experience to end their three-game losing streak.

Andrew Bynum made his first start in eight games since returning from offseason right knee surgery and he helped propel the Lakers to a comprehensive 103-88 victory over the undersized and overmatched New Orleans Hornets.

Bynum scored a season-high 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and grabbed six rebounds while replacing Lamar Odom, who had a team-leading 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Kobe Bryant scored 20 points and Pau Gasol had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Problems?

What problems?

The Lakers looked like champs again instead of chumps. They topped 100 points for the first time in four games, shooting 58.6 percent (41 for 70) while holding the Hornets to 41.8 percent shooting (33 for 79). They led by as many as 24 points.

The Hornets (18-14) never challenged the Lakers (22-10) after the first quarter. The Lakers broke open the game by outscoring the Hornets 33-18 in the second quarter. The Lakers outrebounded the Hornets 44-24 by game's end and had more assists, 25-18.

Bynum's return to the starting lineup created a shuffle that the Lakers handled with ease and confidence. Gasol shifted from center to power forward to make room for Bynum and Odom moved from power forward to a reserve role.

No muss, no fuss.

It is, after all, an alignment that has won consecutive titles.

"I'm not sure Andrew was ready for it, but this team was the right team because they're small and we could overwhelm them with our size," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, referring to the Hornets. "I think Lamar saw it coming. ... I liked the attitude he carried out there."

Twenty-four hours earlier, Jackson said, "Absolutely not," when asked before the Lakers' loss to the San Antonio Spurs whether the 7-foot Bynum was ready to be a starting center again. He announced the move to the team at a meeting Wednesday.

"We had three losses, might as well do it now if you're going to do it," Jackson said of starting Bynum. "I anticipated doing it in the new year, when we had a couple of days of practice and could blend Pau to the wing and Kobe to guard.

"A healthy Andrew Bynum is a major factor in a ballgame. His size is overwhelming in a lot of areas. Our goal is to keep him healthy, so he makes it through the season and goes into the playoffs at the level he can play."

Bynum has missed significant portions of four consecutive seasons because of knee troubles. He suffered torn cartilage in his knee during the Lakers' opening-round playoff victory last April over Oklahoma City.

He played without missing a playoff game, helping the Lakers win their second consecutive NBA championship in June. He underwent surgery July 28 and sat out the first 24 games of the season.

Bynum's game isn't what he or the Lakers hope it will be later in the season, when the important games are to be played. He has improved since making his season debut with seven points on 1-for-5 shooting Dec. 14 against Washington.

"I know I still have some explosiveness to get back and some athleticism to get back," he said. "I know at this point in the season, it's tough to do both. It's tough to train off the court when you're trying to come back. It will come with time."

Actually, Bynum looked pretty good while leaping to dunk a lob pass from Bryant that gave the Lakers a 63-43 lead with 9:50 remaining in the third quarter, one of several highlight reel-caliber plays in perhaps their finest victory of the season.

Odom added a fourth-quarter dunk that also was sure to find its way onto the highlight loops, taking the ball behind his back while driving for a finger-roll layup try that missed the mark. He snared the rebound and dunked in one motion.

"Having fun," he said. "Feeling the game. Instinctive. It's funny that a play like that happens in New Orleans, right? Basketball is almost like jazz. You make one move and take it to another move. You never know which way it's going to go."